Cabinet decision today: 4-Lane Paramakudi-Ramanathapuram section road project in Tamil Nadu approved – Budget, corridor map, details

The Union Cabinet, today, July 1, approved the construction of the four-lane Paramakudi-Ramanathapuram Section of NH-87 in Tamil Nadu.The project spans a length of 46.665 kilometres and will be developed at a total capital outlay of Rs 1,853.16 crore. While briefing on the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting, I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the project will be developed on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) at a capital cost of Rs 1,853 crore.This section forms an integral part of NH-87, which connects 2 prominent centres of religious tourism—Madurai and Rameshwaram. The highway originates at its junction with NH-38 near Tiruppuvanam, traverses Manamadurai, Ramanathapuram, and Rameswaram, and culminates at Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu, situated at the edge of the Palk Strait separating India from Sri Lanka. To address these challenges, the project will upgrade approximately 46.7 km of NH-87 from Paramakudi to Ramanathapuram to a 4-lane configuration, an official release by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) said. This will decongest the existing corridor, improve safety, and cater to the mobility needs of rapidly growing towns such as Paramakudi, Sathirakudi, Achundanvayal and Ramanathapuram, the release said. The proposed four-laning will also significantly enhance road infrastructure between Madurai and Rameshwaram, enabling faster, safer, and more efficient travel between these spiritually significant destinations. Upon completion, the Paramakudi-Ramanathapuram section will play a pivotal role in regional economic growth, strengthening connectivity between major religious and economic centres, boosting tourism to Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi, and opening new avenues for trade and industrial development, the CCEA stated.Beyond facilitating pilgrimage, the project is poised to improve access to key towns and augment multi-modal transportation options through its integration with 2 major railway stations (Madurai and Rameshwaram), 1 airport (Madurai), and 2 minor ports (Pamban and Rameshwaram). The project will also generate approximately 8.4 lakh person-days of direct and 10.45 lakh person-days of indirect employment, and will open new avenues of growth, development and prosperity in surrounding regions, the release said.Notably, the project is anticipated to raise the average vehicular speed by 67 per cent, from 48 km/h to 80 km/h, and reduce travel time along the route by approximately 40 per cent, cutting it from 60 minutes to 35 minutes.Four-lane Paramakudi-Ramanathapuram Section of NH-87 Tamil Nadu: Project detailsProject Name - 4-Lane Paramakudi - Ramanathapuram SectionCorridor - Madurai – Dhanushkodi Corridor (NH-87)Length (km) - 46.7Total Civil Cost – Rs 997.63 croreLand Acquisition Cost – Rs 340.94 croreTotal Capital Cost -Rs 1853.16 croreMode - Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM)Major Roads Connected - National Highways - NH-38, NH-85, NH-36, NH-536, and NH-32State Highways - SH-47, SH-29, SH-34Economic / Social / Transport Nodes Connected - Airports: Madurai, Ramnad (Naval Air Station), Railway Stations: Madurai, Ramehswaram, Minor Port: Pamban, Rameswaram, Major Cities / Towns Connected: Madurai, Paramakudi, Ramnathapuram, RamehswaramEmployment Generation Potential - 8.4 lakh man-days (direct) & 10.5 lakh man-days (indirect)Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) in FY-25 - Estimated at 12,700 Passenger Car Units (PCU)